US Judge Slams Trump Administration Over Deportation of Nigerians, Gambians to Ghana
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
A United States federal judge, Tanya Chutkan, has sharply criticised the administration of former President Donald Trump for what she described as an attempt to bypass U.S. immigration laws in the deportation of Nigerian and Gambian migrants to Ghana.
The ruling, delivered on Saturday in Washington, D.C., followed revelations of a controversial agreement between the U.S. government and Ghana that reportedly allowed the deportation of West African migrants under questionable circumstances.
Judge Raises Alarm Over Rights Violations
During an emergency hearing, Judge Chutkan expressed concerns that the deportations might expose the migrants to persecution and harsh conditions in countries where their safety could not be guaranteed.
“These are not speculative concerns,” the judge said. “The concerns are real enough that the United States government agrees they shouldn’t be sent back to their home country.”
She ordered the U.S. administration to explain by 9 p.m. EDT the steps it was taking to ensure that Ghana would not transfer the deportees to Nigeria or Gambia without proper legal safeguards.
Shocking Details Emerge From Court Filings
Akahi News gathered that a lawsuit filed on Friday revealed troubling details about the manner in which some of the migrants were deported. Lawyers representing the deportees alleged that five men were removed from a Louisiana detention centre, shackled, and flown aboard a U.S. military aircraft without being informed of their destination.
Disturbingly, some of the deportees were reportedly restrained in straitjackets for over 16 hours. One of the men, identified as bisexual, was deported to Gambia, where he is said to have gone into hiding due to fears for his safety. Four others are currently detained under severe conditions at a Ghanaian military facility.
While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security denied the use of straitjackets, it failed to address the main legal issues raised in court. The Department of Justice, on its part, argued that since the deportees were no longer in U.S. custody, the court lacked jurisdiction over what it described as “diplomatic matters.”
Political Fallout in Ghana
The deal has also sparked political controversy in Ghana. According to reports monitored by Akahi News, opposition lawmakers criticised the agreement as unconstitutional, arguing that Parliament should have been consulted before any such arrangement with the United States was finalised.
They warned that the deal risked portraying Ghana as complicit in what they described as “harsh and discriminatory” immigration policies pursued by the Trump administration.
Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama had earlier confirmed that 14 deportees, including Nigerians and Gambians, had already been received under the arrangement.
Human Rights Advocates Demand Transparency
Human rights groups in both the United States and West Africa have condemned the deportations, calling for a full investigation into the reported abuses. They argue that international conventions prohibit the transfer of individuals to countries where they risk persecution, torture, or inhuman treatment.
Legal experts also insist that deportation agreements between nations must comply with both domestic and international law, with full respect for due process and human rights.
Next Steps
Judge Chutkan’s intervention has put fresh pressure on U.S. authorities to review the legality and humanitarian implications of such deportation deals.
As of press time, the U.S. government had yet to confirm whether it would suspend further deportations pending the outcome of the court’s inquiry.
The development continues to attract global attention, with human rights defenders urging both the United States and Ghana to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with international legal standards.
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